• Royal Challengers Bengaluru pledged one million Indian rupees to families of victims from a crowd surge.
• At least 11 fans died and many were injured during the celebrations after winning the IPL title.
• Karnataka Chief Minister announced the government will cover medical expenses for the injured.
• Eyewitnesses reported difficulties in crowd control at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
• Fans expressed grief and concern over the need for better safety measures during large events.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have committed to providing one million Indian rupees ($11,654) to each of the families of the 11 fans who tragically lost their lives in a crowd surge during the team's victory celebrations. The surge occurred as thousands gathered to celebrate RCB's maiden IPL title, leading to a chaotic scene near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which subsequently resulted in 11 fatalities and numerous injuries, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The team also announced plans for a fund named RCB Cares to assist those injured in this tragic incident. Karnataka State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah noted that the stadium's capacity was only 35,000, yet an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 people attended the celebration, greatly exceeding safety limits, as per reports from Dawn and Reuters.

Eyewitness accounts revealed that chaos unfolded as some fans attempted to gain entry without passes, leading to desperate measures such as climbing over gates and trees for a better view. “The unfortunate incident in Bengaluru has caused a lot of anguish and pain to the RCB family,” the team expressed in an official statement, emphasizing their solidarity with bereaved families and the injured, according to Dawn and Channel News Asia.

In the aftermath of the disaster, families of the victims voiced their sorrow, with one grieving mother lamenting, “He died in an RCB shirt. Can RCB give him back to us?” illustrating the profound impact of the incident on the community. Reports indicate calls for improved crowd management practices to prevent similar tragedies in the future, highlighting a need to reevaluate safety measures at such large events, as stated by eyewitnesses and community members, according to Dawn.

The Karnataka government has also pledged to cover the full medical costs for all those injured in the incident, reinforcing their commitment to support those affected by this tragic event. “Orders have been issued to the Health Department to ensure this without delay,” said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.